Method of folding parachutes



April 27 1926. 1,582,202

S. WILEY METHOD OF FOLDING PARACHUTES Filed June 30, 1924 IN VEN TOR Eamu E1 Wile By Z I A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL WILEY, or METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY.

METHOD OF FOLDTNG PABACHUTES.

Application filed June 30, 1924. SerialNo. 723,369.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARGEB, 1883; 22 STAT. L. 625.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WILEY, a citizen of the United States, andaresident of Metuchen, county of Middlesex, and State i of New Jersey,have invented an Improvement in Methods of Folding Parachutes, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention described herein may be used by the Government, or any ofits oflir cers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government,or by any other per; son in the United States, without payment to me ofany royalty thereon, in accordance with the act of March 3,1883.

The. subject of this invention is a method of folding parachutes.

When parachutes are folded for insertion in signal cartridges or inother containers, it is obvious that careful and delicate manipulationin packing is necessary in order to insure the opening of the parachutein a proper manner so that the suspension cords will not becomeentangled, thus preventing the proper functioning of the parachute,

The method now in vogue of folding parachutes consists in grasping theapex of the parachute, drawing and accordion plaiting the varioussegments, smoothing the folds into cylindrical form and then folding theentire parachute double. The suspension cords are coiled and placedagainst the side of the folded parachute and the bundle again foldedover the cords. Another method consists in conveniently folding theparachute, rolling it into a cylindrical bundle and then wrapping thecords around the rolled bundle My im roved method of folding a para-'chute is esigned to afford better and more positive functioning byinverting the apical portion within the circumferential portion of theparachute so that when the parachute is expelled from the container itwill be in a position to immediately distend. This method of folding aparachute also permits thGpSllSPOllSlOIl cords to be conveniently.tucked under one. of the outer folds for protection againstentanglement and to insure immediate release to reduce the probabilityof the parachute being consumed due to sustained proximity of thejgnitedsignal or illuminatlng composition suspendedby the parachute.

To these .and other ends, my invention consists in the arrangement, andcombination of elements, described hereinafter and pointed out in theclaims forming a part of this specification.

A practical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which,-

Fig. l'is a view of a distended parachute equipped with a chain ofsignal or illuminating members;

I ig. 2 representsthe first step in folding the parachute; x

-Fig. 3 represents the second step in folding the parachute;

Fig. 4 represents the third step in folding the parachute; and

ig. 5 shows the. manner of disposing the suspended cords.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference:

The parachute comprises a circular envelope which may be formed of asingle piece of material or composed of a plurality of triangularsegments 11 joined to each other to form a circumference 12 and meetingat an apex 13. Secured to each juncture of the segments at theircircumference are suspension cords 14 of equal lengths, their free endsknotted as at 15.. Attachable to the knotted ends 15 is a signaling orilluminating device herein shown as a chain of signals or illuminants16.

In folding the parachute according to my method the parachute isdistended as shown in Figure 1, so that the circumference and suspensioncords are in fimctioning position. The apical portion is then depressedor inverted to form a pocket as in Figure 2 and folded baclron its ownlength as shown in Figure 3. The suspension cords attached to thecircumference are then pulled down, drawing the circumferential portionwhich has not been depressed over the folded portion as shown in Figure4:.

- The suspension-cords which are equally spaced about the circumferenceof the para- 0 ute are folded and tucked under one of the outer folds ofthe parachute which serves as a protection, only the knotted portions ofthe cords to which the signal or illuminating chain is attachedprotruding as "shown in Upon discharge from a container, the parachutewill immediately be distended allowing the suspension cords and theirattached signal chain to fall free, thereby reducing the probability ofthe "flame from the signal chain consuming the parachute. By this methodof folding, I'also obviate the necessity for plaiting the segmentsbefore folding.

While in the foregoing there has been illustrated and described suchcombination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferredmethod of carrying out my invention, it is nevertheless desired toemphasize the fact that interpretation of the invention should only beconclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. The method of folding a parachute ineluding suspension cordsconsisting of depressing the apical portion, folding the ap- 2 icalportion upon itself, drawing the circum f'erential portion about theapical portion, and tucking the 1 suspension cords under a fold of thecircumferential 'portion;

2. The method of folding a parachute consisting of depressing the apicalportion, folding the apical portion, and drawing the circumferentialportion about the apical portion.

3. The method of folding a parachute consisting of depressing theapical. portion, drawing the circumferential portion about the-apicalportion and then tucking the sus pension cords within thevcircumferential portion.

SAMUEL WILEY.

